Quicks: DRAM prices, fabs, Via, price cuts

Spot prices for DRAM are stabilizing, but all the capacity online lately is pushing down contract DRAM prices. That should help PC makers make a profit, and maybe cut prices. The utilization of fabs is expected to hit 82.4% in May, well up from the bottom of 69% in December. Via's getting into all kinds of things lately, and I have to say that this is a good time to branch out. Via is getting into Gigabit Ethernet, optical drive controllers, graphics controllers, and also the cellphone chip market. Notebook shipments are somewhat stagnant this month, as everyone's waiting for the mobile price cuts coming from Intel on May 26.